FEATUREDProposals for East African policy makers to foster innovationRecommendations to promote innovation along potato value chains through modifications in existing policies, regulations and standards.

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Effectiveness of Protection of Early Potato Cultivars Against Phytophthora infestans Mont De Bary depending on the Protection Strategy

December 18 2017 by INKOA

The research was based on the ﬁeld experiments conducted in 2014–2016 in the Variety Assessment Experimental Station, Central Center for Cultivar Assessment in Uhnin on the fawn soil, with a slightly acidic reaction, on rye good complex. The experiments were set up as random blocks in a dependent arrangement in three replications. The strategy of potato protection against late blight was the factor of a ﬁrst line (from three to nine fungicide applications and a control object – without protection). Potato cultivars (5) with different level of resistance on Phytophthora infestans were the second experimental factor.

In the experiment, the following rates of fertilizers were applied: 90 N, 39,2 P, 112 K kg·ha-1. Evaluation of efﬁciency of different complex strategies. Six-times potato protection was the most effective strategy regarding the tuber. The resistance of cultivars on Phytophthora infestans should be taken into account when choosing the strategy of potato protection against late blight.

This report presents the results of a light interim evaluation of the first 1.5 years of the Africa-EU research and innovation (R&I) partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). The evaluation responds to a request from the April 2016 meeting of senior officials of the EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) for a report on the progress made in the FNSSA R&I partnership to the November 2017 Africa-EU Summit.

Ethiopia is one of the major potato producing countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa region where potato is the fastest expanding food crop. The natural environment in Ethiopia is very suitable for year round production of potato using rain-fed and irrigated systems. However, the actual potato yield in the country ranges between 8-10 t/ha, which is slightly below the average for Africa. Shortage of good quality seed has been recognized as the single most important factor limiting potato production in the developing countries including Ethiopia.

There are 115 million operational holdings in the country and about 80 % are marginal and small farmers. To fulfill the basic needs of house hold including food (cereal, pulses, oilseeds, feed, fodder, fiber etc.) warrant an attention about Alternative Arable Cropping Strategies (AACS). Undoubtedly, majority of the farmers are doing farming since long back but their main focus was individual components but not in a strategies way. The strategies is made in such a way that product of one component should be the input for other enterprises with high degree of complimentary effects on each other. The information on AACS in a systematic way is presented here.

A study was taken up during 2014-16 for evaluating the potential of an organic package of practice towards integrated crop production (green farming) in comparison to conventional farmers’ practice in West Bengal, India. Under green farming, compost was integrated with chemical fertilizer for soil management while organic plant/ pest management was undertaken utilizing Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology. The study indicated higher yield (9.7 %), higher nutrient use efficiency and economic sustainability under green farming irrespective of study area or potato variety. Higher qualitative expression in terms of starch content, pulp pH, vitamin C etc. under green farming might be due to the organic plant management aimed at energization of plant biochemical functions. Soil quality development as noted under green farming might have been influenced by the on-farm produced compost containing rich self- generated micro flora (in order of 1016 per colony forming unit.). The study indicated that green farming may serve as an efficient substitute of conventional farming towards yield sustenance, abatement of food toxicity and quality end product; through higher use of renewable energy and activation of plant physiological functions.

Sustainable development on our planet cannot be achieved without a major contribution from agriculture. People must be fed, and agriculture has to face the challenge of producing sufficient food for a rapidly growing world population whilst maintaining the world’s fragile resources. Modern farming systems have evolved to meet this need in a way that combines the essential requirements of profitability and productivity. Sustainable development must encompass food production alongside conservation of finite resources and protection of the natural environment so that the needs of people living today can be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Economic and ecological access to food could be only ensured by adopting farming system approach consisting of change from commodity-based to resource-based planning and integrated use and management of land, water and human resources to maximize income and employment. The primary goals of farming system is to maximize the yield of all component to provide study and stable income at higher level, rejuvenation of systems productivity and achieve agro-ecological equilibrium. Biotech stress management through natural cropping systems management and reducing the use of fertilizers and other harmful agrochemicals to provide pollution free, healthy produce and environment to the society. The Training Manual on "Integrated Farming System for Sustainable Hill Agriculture : An Option for Climate Smart Agriculture and Natural Resource Management" deals with various aspects of integrated farming system in a holistic way.

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